How to dress your child …for sleep
Around this time of year, I get LOTS of questions about the best way to dress babies and toddlers for sleep during the winter months. Specifically, what kind of sleep sack to use and how many layers should baby wear under it. It can be super tempting to overdress our littles in all the cozy things, because they’re so stinkin’ cute when they’re all snuggled in - and it's COLD outside!
But did you know that babies who get too warm at night are at a greater risk for SIDS, and toddlers and big kids who overheat during sleep are more likely to have nightmares or night terrors?
With that in mind, there are some great options for kids of all ages that are perfectly snuggly for the cold weather that's coming, but won't cause them to overheat while they sleep. Before we get to that, let’s talk about your family’s ideal sleep environment…
What’s the Ideal Room Temperature for Kids and Adults?
The National Sleep Foundation recommends 60-67° F for adults and 68-72° for babies and toddlers year round. (I personally keep my thermostat set to 67° F in the winter and 70° F in the summer). But if you have a house like mine that doesn’t heat/cool evenly on every level or in every room, you’ll want to find out what the actual temp is in your child’s upstairs bedroom - not just what your thermostat on the main level reads. We have three bedrooms upstairs. Two have ceiling fans and stay pretty comfortable, but the one that doesn’t is significantly warmer! You might also be surprised to know that the temperature on your baby monitor may not be accurate either. In order to properly gauge the temp in your child’s bedroom, you might consider using an extra thermometer like this one that measures temperature and humidity, so as a bonus, you’ll also know when to plug in the humidifier for easier breathing.
Layering your Child’s Clothing for Sleep
Now that you understand what temperatures are best for sleeping, let’s talk about what they should be wearing! When choosing a sleep sack for your infant or toddler, you'll want to consider the TOG rating. The TOG or Thermal-Overall-Grade measures the warmth of a sleep sack.
In the winter you'll want to pick a sleep sack that has a higher TOG to keep baby warm, and in the summer you'll want to choose a sleep sack with a lower TOG to help baby stay cool. If you can keep the temperature the same in your child's bedroom during the winter as it is in the summer, you probably don't need a sleep sack with a higher TOG rating. But again, if your house doesn't heat or cool evenly, you'll want to pay more attention to the TOG.
LIGHT SLEEP SACK (0.5 TOG)
Made with single sheets of cotton, without padding and suitable for room temps above 75°F. Ideal for hot weather and summer days.
SUMMER SLEEP SACK (1.0 TOG)
Lightly padded and suitable for use in warm weather and room temps between 64°F-75° F.
STANDARD SLEEP SACK (2.5 TOG)
Padded and suitable for use all year round, except during peak summer temps. Use in rooms that are between 59°F-70°F.
WINTER SLEEP SACK (3.5 TOG)
Warmly padded and suitable for colder weather in rooms below 64°F.
How to Dress Under the Sleep Sack
It's fine to dress your child in a long-sleeved onesie, tops and bottoms or zip-up jammies under their sleep sack. Just keep their room temp in mind. Take a look at the guide below and save the image to use as a reference to choose the right amount of clothing to layer under the appropriate sleep sack, based on the information above.
Sleep Sacks for Cold Weather
Sleep sacks are available for newborns to school age kids, but chances are when your child moves into a big bed, they’ll be just fine using a regular blanket. Many want to know if they should stop using sleep sacks at a certain age, but this is totally up to you. If your child has a hard time keeping a blanket on, a sleep sack is a great alternative! It’s also important to remember that a sleep sack is perfectly fine for your child as they are learning to roll, crawl, stand and walk.
WOOLINO FOUR SEASON SLEEP SACK $99
For children 2-24 months. Unlike other sleep sacks, it can be used year-round and is suitable for room temps 63-77° F
HALO MICROFLEECE WEARABLE BLANKET $21.99
For children 0-24 months, TOG rating 1.0
SLUMBERSAC SLEEPING BAGS $26.99 and up
For children 0-10 yrs, TOG rating 2.5
BABY DEE DEE SLEEP NEST SLEEP SACK $42
For children 0-36 months, TOG rating 2.5
BABYINABAG QUILTED WINTER SLEEP SACK $36
For children 3-36 months, TOG rating 2.5
